A method for removing acid gases from a fluid stream in which the fluid stream, in contact with an absorption medium in the form of an aqueous amine solution in an absorber, is passed through a first absorption zone and through a second absorption zone, the loaded absorption medium is passed into a first regeneration zone, a part of the resultant partially regenerated absorption medium is passed into the first absorption zone, the other part of the partially regenerated absorption medium is passed into a second regeneration zone, and a part of the resultant regenerated absorption medium is passed into the first absorption zone and the other part of the regenerated absorption medium is passed into the second absorption zone. The method can be carried out with few changes to apparatus of a hot pot plant, the energy requirement for the same performance being no higher than in the hot pot process.